TIP 104: TIE A FIVE-MINUTE FLY The Woolly Bugger is the perfect pattern for a learning fly-tyer. It's big, so you can see what you're doing, and it involves only a few inexpensive materials. Even more importantly, it's a proven producer for trout, bass, and almost anything in between. STEP 1 Wrap black 6/0 thread along the length of a size 10 streamer hook. Always wrap away from yourself, over the top of the hook. If you want a beadhead bugger, slide the bead on the hook before starting your wraps. STEP 2 Secure one large black marabou feather at the front of the hook, and wrap all the way back to the bend. You want to leave enough feather exposed to create a tail. STEP 3 Connect a 2-inch piece of fine copper wire by the tail, and also a strand of black chenille. Wrap the thread forward, then the chenille, but leave the wire behind. Tie off the chenille with a half hitch. STEP 4 Now tie on a saddle hackle feather (black or grizzly), palmer it back (wrap with spacing), and secure this with a couple of wraps of the wire. Trim the leftover hackle. Wrap the wire forward, and tie it off with the thread. Trim the excess wire. STEP 5 Finish the fly with a tapered thread head. Whip- finish, apply a dab of head cement, and you're done. Excerpted from The Total Fly Fishing Manual: 307 Tips and Tricks from Expert Anglers by Joe Cermele, Field and Stream Editors All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
